SWNOVELS Chapter 2200
Jamie wrapped his arms around little Trista, watching the drool trickle from her laughing lips as she beamed at her parents.
"Your dad has always been the charmer... It's exactly how he swept your mom off her feet!" Jamie quipped.
With a mischievous chuckle, Jamie added, "But hey, if your dad didn't have those moves, how would Uncle Jamie get the joy of hanging with adorable Trista, huh?"
Lifting Trista up high, Jamie began to play airplane with her. She wasn't the least bit scared; in fact, she laughed heartily, her joy contagious.
The Baillie couple pretended not to see the commotion.
"Did you also bring back some pastries?" Paige asked, gesturing towards the two boxes on the table, "Lynn brought guest home today and also picked up a couple of boxes. How on earth are we going to finish all this?"d2
"No worries, Jamie's got a big appetite," Baillie said, cool as a cucumber, before he noticed a stranger in the living room.
Not a total stranger, though. During an investigation on Penn, Baillie had seen a photograph of Rose.
"I heard that!!!" Jamie called out from across the room.
Baillie ignored him. For someone who cherished peace and quiet, Jamie was just too, too loud. After working closely with him recently, Baillie had developed the ability to tune out Jamie's less-important ramblings.
He nodded politely at Rose as a way of greeting, then handed Paige the still-warm treats he had picked up from a nearby shop.
After Paige accepted the food, Baillie retreated to wash his hands, remove his watch, and trade his suit for more comfortable loungewear. He returned to scoop Trista from Jamie's embrace.
In her father's arms, Trista calmed down considerably, contentedly sucking on her little fingers.
Jamie grabbed some snacks and sat down next to Jacob. In Jamie's eyes, Jacob was the epitome of a cad. If there were a ranking for such men, Jacob would take the top spot, even surpassing Wayne and Paige's ex-boyfriend, Logan Sutton. However, it seemed like this man was attempting to turn a new leaf.
After a moment's thought, Jamie decided to share some wisdom, "Don't be fooled by Baillie's icy exterior. At home, unless Paige wants to hold Trista, he's the one doing most of the child-rearing." Rose nibbled on the sweet treat given to her by Jamie, clearly taken aback by this revelation, and couldn't help but steal another glance at Baillie.
Baillie was gently patting his daughter's back, and in no time, the playful little girl was showing signs of sleepiness. He continued to hover near Paige, occasionally pointing out something about the pastries. Once Paige confirmed they were delicious, a satisfied smile spread across his face.
Rose shifted uncomfortably, feeling out of place amidst the family's unusual dynamic.
Once Trista was asleep, Baillie handed her over to a maid to take her back to her bedroom.
Rosalynn and the others hadn't come downstairs yet, and Paige, sensing Rose's embarrassment, started a conversation with her.
During their chat, Rose curiously asked, "Jamie mentioned that your husband is the primary caregiver for the child?"
Paige nodded with a smile, "He's much better at it than I am."
"But... doesn't he have to work?" Rose inquired, puzzled.
That's when Jamie joined in, "Odd question, you know. Paige works too."
Rose seemed to hesitate, perhaps mulling over something, before lowering her head and saying, "Right, President Owens is quite the renowned businesswoman. I was just curious because I heard Mr. Baillie has an impressive academic background. It seemed a shame for him to not utilize his talent."
"Not at all," Paige waved off the concern, "We agreed that before our daughter starts school, he would work for a while and I'd take care of the baby at home. Then I'll go back to work and he'll stay at home. It's all about balance."